Month: December 2015

No post-game analysis here, just a whole lot of pride as our hometown team, the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies, took MSU into overtime last night with a couple clutch free throws from junior guard Kay Felder in the final seconds. My MSU friends told me I would be watching a match-up that would leave OU hoping the game would end sooner than later. NOT SO FAST! Hey, when MSU is playing anyone else but OU, I have to admit that I’m an MSU fan. Let’s not forget that before it was OU, the campus was MSU/Oakland. But as the City Manager of OU’s hometown, I’m a Golden Grizzlies fan through and through when OU is on the court. While the Golden Grizzlies players may be talking today about their loss, the rest of us are talking about an incredible game that elevated their team to a whole new level this season. So to the OU basketball team I say this: Auburn Hills is proud of your team, the caliber of play, and the amazing effort and spirit you put forth last night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. No shame in that loss. You guys are incredible! Congratulations Coach Kampe and the entire OU basketball team. GO GOLDEN GRIZZLIES!!!

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On behalf of Mayor McDaniel and the City Council, and the entire staff of the City of Auburn Hills, I wish to extend holiday greetings to all. It has been a productive year in Auburn Hills and as the year comes to a close, we reflect on this past year and are grateful for those who:Continue reading “Happy Holidays”→

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The City of Auburn Hills participates in numerous charitable giving initiatives during the holiday season. Firefighters Against Hunger, Adopt a Senior, the Optimist Club collected toys for children, Helping Hands, and Meals on Wheels just to name a few. My personal favorite is when the Auburn Hills community sends Santa to our Troops.

Throughout the month of November, staff collected donations of items to be sent in care packages to local troops serving around the world. The community got involved and many people brought donations to the Tree Lighting Ceremony last Friday. Local businesses also contributed to the care packages, including many generous donations from Fieldstone Architecture and Engineering. Continue reading “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”→

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There are many reasons to proud to be the City Manager of Auburn Hills. The dynamic content of this community makes for every day challenges that are exciting. No two days are alike and that is what makes my job so rewarding. But like every great organization, it takes some very focused and hard-working individuals to keep us humming along. Economic development is always a key focus of our efforts. No community survives and thrives without constantly re-inventing itself. It is the role of the Community Development Department and its economic development division to lead that effort. Last year, our Economic Development Coordinator retired. Recognizing the ongoing belt-tightening that we have to continue to achieve, I chose to combine the Economic Development Coordinator position with another position of Coordinator of Community Relations and Legislative Affairs. Those two positions were rolled into one and established as the Manager of Business Development and Community Relations, a role now held by Stephanie Carroll, a seventeen year employee of the City. Stephanie is passionate about her role in economic development and is actively engaged in all aspects of our Business Development initiatives here at the City. Each and every week she is meeting with community stakeholders on issues of business retention and expansion, along with activities surrounding business recruitment. She is proud to represent the Auburn Hills philosophy of regional cooperation and clearly understands that Auburn Hills can’t attract every business that wants to be in Michigan, but that the greater approach is to at least get them to Michigan and to work hard to retain businesses in Michigan. Everyone benefits from a thriving Michigan. Continue reading “Auburn Hills Pride”→

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Nothing says Welcome to Auburn Hills like the new Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) located at University Drive and I-75. Yesterday, contractors began the installation of the new decorative Auburn Hills signs that are being affixed to each side of the bridge. The DDI is the first of its kind in Michigan and the City made extra efforts to customize it to our community. We think the new signs are a great source of pride for our community and make it perhaps the most attractive bridge in the state. The Auburn Hills Tax Increment Finance Authority can be commended for their collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation in assisting in funding this new bridge. It was their contribution to the bridge project that allowed us to make this bridge as attractive as it is. There is no doubt that when you approach this interchange, you will certainly know that you are in the great city of Auburn Hills!